It’s not often that I write an article for the Two Left Wellies about how a Scout should behave. Good Scout behaviour is ultimately guided by the Scout Law - a very simple set of rules. One of those Laws is that “A Scout has Self Respect and Respect for Others”.
On camps this year, I have been surprised by the Scouts definition of Respect. The current way of thinking (if I am to believe what I am told) is that effectively no-one starts with any respect and that it is earned every time. You can’t just “demand” or “expect” respect from others – so that Teachers are put in a difficult position as they will not earn respect as they get the kids to do homework and punish them.
So how do you get respect? Well, it seems that peer-pressure and being cool (that is just doing stuff that you agree with) is the short cut. But is that the right way?
I had a think about this over the weekend. When I was growing up, teachers and people in position of authority would be automatically be given an element of respect because of the position that they held. A teacher would have respect as they had a wealth of knowledge that they would pass on to me and which I might find useful in later life (20+ years later I can now say that some of those things are not of use for me now, but I recognise if I had gone for a career in woodwork they might have done). Then, as I spent more time with that teacher I may then give them further personal respect for the way in which they instructed me (and again, many years later there are still teachers who I recall by name)
So, starting from zero respect – is that a good thing? I don’t think so, and that’s because of the other part to respect – getting respect back.
When you give someone respect, there is a silent agreement that you will receive some back. So if you give someone no respect – how can you expect to get them to give you respect either?
From a teacher / scout leader point of view then: a new Scout (or student) joins the class. Initially the leader will give that student some respect – a hope that they will want to learn or study and that they will do so in a way that will also allow all the others in the class (or Troop) to learn as well. Then, over time, the leader will then get to know that Scout better. If the Scout is showing a willingness to learn (constructively) then the Leader will give that Scout more respect; it may be that respect will be shown by promoting them to Assistant Patrol Leader or even Patrol Leader; or they may suggest opportunities that they feel a Scout may benefit from. Note that from a Scouting perspective this willingness is shown in the Scout wanting to learn themselves, not to show off to the leader.
However, if a Scout should decide that they don’t wish to be constructive or helpful, then it is natural for a Leader to lose respect for that Scout – and this can be demonstrated by taking some action (which can be talking to them about their behaviour or more extreme actions such as not allowing them to take part in evenings and activities).
However, this isn’t a one-way road. If a Scout misbehaves and the Leader does caution them then some respect will be lost – however, if the Scout then listens to that caution and decides to change their behaviour then the Leader will start to give that Scout more respect; again, a recognition of the Scouts willingness to learn.
The Scout Law refers to two types of respect – respect for others and a respect for self.
The second part to this is a topic big enough for an article in itself, but it is worth noting that both are linked together; a Scout (or indeed Leader) that shows little respect for themselves (which could be their conduct, the state of their uniform) will find that others will lose their respect for them also.
The Scout Law is a simple set of rules for good living. Whilst all the rules are very simple in what they ask us to do they will also provide us with a great challenge to make sure that we live by them.
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). The second rule is (of course) be careful what you suggest – it could be you that the punishment is given to.
